So what does this mean? It means the fight is far from over. And the man now calling the shots is someone Israel has been trying—and failing—to kill for over 15 years.
A Fighter From the Shadows
Al-Haddad has been in Hamas for decades. He started at the bottom, leading a small unit. Over time, he commanded six battalions and a special forces unit. After Israel killed Bassem Issa in 2021, al-Haddad was promoted to lead the Gaza Brigade. That’s no small job—it’s like being handed the keys to the military core of Hamas.
In 2024, he became commander of northern Gaza. And after Yahya Sinwar went underground—and then was reportedly killed—al-Haddad took over most of Gaza’s military command. Once Mohammed Sinwar was eliminated, al-Haddad became the clear successor.
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October 7 and Al-Haddad’s Role
The night before the October 7 attack, al-Haddad met with senior Hamas commanders. He handed out orders: take soldiers hostage, film everything, and seize Israeli towns near the border. It was brutal. One of the deadliest attacks on Israel in decades, and al-Haddad helped plan it.
According to Ynet News, he personally oversaw the assault on the Nahal Oz base, where dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed.
He later told Al Jazeera that Hamas acted after hacking Israel’s Unit 8200 and discovering war plans. Whether or not that’s true, the statement shows just how bold—and calculating—he is.
Why He’s So Hard to Kill
Al-Haddad has survived at least six Israeli assassination attempts. Airstrikes in 2008, 2012, 2021, and 2023 missed him. Since the latest war began, three more attacks have failed. He keeps moving, trusts no one outside a tight circle, and even Israel’s elite units can’t pin him down.
His family hasn’t been as lucky. His eldest son and grandson were killed in January 2025. His second son died in April. But al-Haddad remains in hiding, still running Hamas operations and pushing back against Israeli efforts to crush the group.
Power Beyond the Battlefield
Al-Haddad is more than just a soldier. He once helped lead al-Majd, Hamas’s internal spy-hunting unit. That gave him deep insight into who could be trusted—and who couldn’t. It also made him indispensable to the Sinwar brothers.
Now, he’s reportedly vetoed parts of a recent ceasefire proposal, holding up peace efforts led by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. That means al-Haddad isn’t just fighting the war—he’s shaping the political outcomes too.
While another Hamas figure, Muhammad Shabana, was briefly seen as a possible successor, there’s no doubt who’s in charge today.
Final Word
Izz al-Din al-Haddad is now Hamas’s most powerful military figure. He’s survived bombs, betrayals, and battlefield chaos. He commands fighters, hostages, and the direction of a war that’s not close to ending. As Gaza burns, the man called “the Ghost” is still standing.
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